Famous City Research Project and Presentation
Looking for a fun and engaging project to use as part of your social studies curriculum? Or maybe a quick unit study project? Offer your kids their choice of famous cities to research for this fun learning activity. Keep reading for all the details to create a Famous City student research project for your classroom or homeschool.
Your students can use the suggested list of cities, or choose any city in the world and do their own research.
Student Research Assignment Requirements
First, your kids will choose a city to research.
They will then use books, websites, documentaries, YouTube videos, maps, and more to find the required information. I’ve included a checklist below with plenty of ideas you can ask them to cover in their research.
During their research, they’ll probably come across additional interesting information they may want to add.
Finally, they should put everything together in a presentation of some kind.
You should give your students a due date for their completed presentation. Obviously, this can be changed at your discretion, but a deadline is usually a motivating factor!
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Presentation Format
Whenever possible, it’s helpful to give kids choices. Some kids like to write, some like to draw, some like technology. Offer them the option of a written essay, slideshow, oral presentation, or some combination of those.
In addition to those basic presentation formats, you may suggest writing a fictional story or play, making a movie, or creating a game that incorporates the information they learn. I’m always open to suggestions from my kids for ways they can demonstrate their learning. Creating a physical product like a diorama or model, an interactive timeline, or a collage are a few more ways my kids have asked to show what they learned. Encourage them to get creative!
Read: 60 Creative Ways to Demonstrate Learning
Choosing a City to Research
Your student may already have a preference, but if they aren’t sure which city to learn more about, here are a few ideas to help them decide.
- one they want to visit
- someone they know has visited the city
- they are interested in the country where it is located
- they’ve seen a movie or TV show using the location in a scene
Another way to decide is to have them watch a short video overview of famous cities or skim through a book about beautiful cities of the world to choose one that sounds interesting.
Video Overviews of Famous Cities
12 Most Visited Cities in the World (5:30 minute video touching on twelve famous cities and why people love to visit)
15 Best Cities to Visit in the World (30 minute video with an overview of 15 world cities)
World Cities Helpful Links
Below, I’ve listed 50 cities of the world with links to helpful websites your students can use to research about the destination. You’ll also find a vast amount of additional video content on YouTube if you search for your specific city name and add “history” or “tourism” to your search (e.g. Dubai tourism or Venice history).
If you’re worried about inappropriate content, remember that YouTube ads and suggested videos are sometimes wildly unrelated to the specific video your student is watching. I have found that including YouTube video links in Google classroom eliminates the ads.
50 World Cities to Research
- Hong Kong Tourism Board
- Bangkok: Tourism Authority of Thailand
- London: Visit London
- Singapore: Visit Singapore
- Macau: BBC News Profile
- Paris: Tourist Office
- Dubai: Visit Dubai
- New York City: NYC Tourism
- Kuala Lumpur: National Geographic Travel Guide
- Shenzhen Government Office/Travel
- Phuket: Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Istanbul: Directorate of Culture and Tourism
- Delhi: Delhi Tourism
- Tokyo: Go Tokyo
- Rome: Italia Travel
- Antalya: Tourist Information
- Taipei: Taipei 101
- Guangzhou: Travel China Guide
- Mumbai: Directorate of Tourism
- Prague City Tourism
- Miami: Visit Florida
- Seoul: Visit Seoul
- Shanghai: Visit Shanghai
- Los Angeles: Visit California
- Agra: India Tourism
- Osaka: Japan Travel
- Barcelona Tourism
- Milan Tourist Information
- Denpasar: Bali Tourism
- Vienna: Vienna Travel Guide
- Cancun: Visit Cancun, Mexico
- Berlin: Visit Berlin
- Johannesburg: Discover Johannesburg
- Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnam Travel
- Venice: Visit Venezia
- Jaipur: India Tourism
- Madrid: Turismo Madrid
- Dublin: Visit Dublin
- Florence Tourist Information
- Moscow: Visit Russia
- Athens: Official Tourist Guide
- Cairo: Lonely Planet Travel Guide
- Sydney: Visit Sydney
- Zurich: Switzerland Tourism
- Reykjavik: Iceland Tourism
- Nairobi: National Geographic Travel Guide
- Stockholm: Visit Stockholm
- Vancouver: Destination Vancouver
- Budapest: Budapest Tourism
- Warsaw: Warsaw Tourist Information
Famous City Research Questions
Even when your student is interested in learning more about a topic, they may have a hard time knowing where to start or what questions to ask. Here is a list of specific questions and areas of interest your student can consider when researching the city of their choice.
You can easily adapt this project to fit the learning level of your student. For upper elementary students, less questions and ones that are simpler to find might be sufficient. For middle or high school students, have them look into demographics, economics, or history to produce a more thorough presentation. They may find one or two areas they are interested in to dig out more detailed information.
General Facts
- How many miles is this city from my home?
- How long would it take to drive or fly there?
- Does this city have a nickname?
- Does this city have a sister city somewhere else in the world?
- Give three fun facts about this city.
Geography Questions
- What country or region of the world is it in?
- What is the population of this city?
- How does this population compare to another city, state, or country?
- Is this a capital city?
- What continent is it on?
- Can you locate where this is on a world map?
- How big is this city (area)?
- How does this city compare in size to something else? Another city, state, or even country?
- What is the natural environment and surrounding landscape like?
- What are the weather patterns or general climate of this city?
Historical Information
- When did it become a city?
- Who settled the area?
- Who were its founders? Are there parts of the city named after specific people?
- Why did it become a city? Why did people choose to group together in this area? Was it part of important trade routes?
- What did this city produce historically?
Visitor Information
- How many visitors does this city receive annually?
- What important information should tourists know before visiting?
- What are the most famous or popular things to do or see when visiting?
- What are some unique or unusual sights or activities to do in this city?
- Would you put this on your bucket list of places to visit?
Data & Demographics
- What is the median household income in this city?
- What is the median home value in this city?
- What is the average commute time in this city?
- What is the poverty rate in this city?
- What is the median age in this city?
- What is the current unemployment rate in this city?
- What industries or companies employ the most people in this city?
- What ethnicities are most represented in this city?
- Any other interesting statistics?
Additional Research Questions or Topics
- Sketch a simple city map showing the general layout of the city. Is it a grid pattern or something different?
- Are there any famous people from this city? What are they known for?
- Are there any books or movies set in this city?
- Is this city known for any particular architectural style(s)? Which styles?
- What is the tallest building in the city? How tall is it?
- Which is the oldest building in the city? What year was it built?
- Are there other famous structures in this city (tunnels, bridges, towers, etc.)?
- Does this city have any tourism or travel slogans?
- How much money is generated by tourism each year in this city?
- Who are the city’s largest employers?
- What is the oldest known business in the city?
- Are there any foods this city is known for?
- How did the city get its name?
- What public transportation systems exist in this city?
- What important bodies of water are in this city?
- Has this city experienced any natural disasters?
- Are there any well-known universities or museums in this city?
- What is the education system like in this city?
- What is the tax structure in this city (property taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, etc.)?
- What iconic symbols, statues, structures, signs, or images are associated with this city?
- What are the trends of people moving into or out of this city?
- What specific neighborhoods or areas exist within the city? Describe how they are differentiated.
- What challenges is this city facing (infrastructure, employment, limited natural resources, crime, etc.)?
Your students may explore many more additional questions once they begin researching. Encourage them to include whatever information is interesting to them.
Additional Helpful Research Material
Below are links to some additional resources your students may enjoy using to learn about cities.
Map Breakdowns of some major cities – Bright Trip (YouTube)
How Many World Cities Can You Name? (CityQuiz interactive game)
Largest cities by population (World Population Review)
MapMaker: Cities of the World (National Geographic interactive exploration of population change)
Cost of Living Comparison in Cities Around the World (Visual Capitalist)
50 Highest Cities in the World (Visual Capitalist)
World Cities Rankings & Statistics (Global Sherpa)
City Facts (interesting facts about world cities)
Surprising Facts about World Cities (When on Earth)
City-Data.com (statistics on U.S. cities)
City Skyline Quiz (Guess That – You Tube)
Famous Cities of the World Homeschool Research Project
A research project provides your kids with the opportunity to learn in a deep way. The suggested questions are a starting point to help them begin the process of looking for information. Along the way, they will likely have additional questions of their own and look for answers to them. They can learn to take notes on important information, compile their notes into a meaningful presentation to communicate their knowledge to others, and keep a record of their sources.
Increased autonomy in choosing how to present what they’ve learned allows your kids to learn in whatever way works best for them.
Don’t forget to check out my no-prep Famous City Student Research Project for a print-and-go worksheet pack to get your kids started on their research!
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Famous City Research Report: Homeschool Project
